Church on the Rock - Nashville

City On A Hill: Hearing, Doing, Living the Word |Pt.2| Nick Birmingham

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Welcome to the Church on the Rock-Nashville, Arkansas weekly sermon podcast! We're delighted to have you join us as we explore and share the teachings that guide our faith and inspire our community.

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Date: 3/23/2025

Pastor: Nick Birmingham

Church: Church On The Rock Nashville, Arkansas

Scripture Reference: James 1:19-27

Show Notes:

  • Introduction:
    • Welcome and God's goodness acknowledged.
    • Introduction to James 1:19-27 as the focus of the sermon.
    • Personal anecdote about heart stickers and a public encounter to illustrate how people are always watching.
    • Theme: Continuing the "City On A Hill" concept, emphasizing hearing, doing, and living God's word.
    • Acknowledgment of the distractions and challenges of modern times.
    • Addressing the common feeling that current struggles are unique, highlighting that scripture shows otherwise.
    • Relating the feeling of teenagers who say “you don’t understand” to the idea that people think the bible is not relevant today.
    • Emphasis on James’ instruction to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
    • Prayer for the message to inspire living faith out loud.
    • The Struggle with Listening and Speaking:
      • Personal story about impatience in Little Rock traffic to illustrate the struggle with listening and controlling anger.
      • Transparency about personal struggles to connect with the audience.
      • Highlighting the universal struggle of being quick to speak and slow to listen.
      • James' encouragement to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
      • Context from James 1:2-5 and 12-18:
        • Trials as opportunities for growth.
        • Importance of seeking wisdom from God.
        • Clarification that temptation comes from personal desires, not God.
        • James 1:19-27 Breakdown:
          • Point 1: Be Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger (James 1:19-20):
            • "Know this, my beloved brothers" - emphasis on understanding how to act.
            • Importance of intentional listening in a noisy world.
            • Dangers of hasty speech and the harm words can cause.
            • Importance of creating space for God to speak.
            • Anger destroys relationships.
            • Ancient literature quote: “Be quick to hear but deliberate in answering.”
            • Think before you speak.
            • The negative effects of quick responses in texts or social media.
            • The negative real world effects of uncontrolled speech.
            • Proverbs 29:20.
            • Pausing and seeking God's guidance before responding.
            • Point 2: Don't Just Hear, Live It (James 1:22-24):
              • Being doers of the word, not just hearers.
              • Action authenticates faith.
              • Living intentionally in alignment with God's word.
              • Explanation of the mirror analogy: regularly examining oneself.
              • Nominal Christians.
              • NT Wrights explanation of the mirror analogy.
              • Practical application: reflecting on God's word daily.
              • Point 3: Real Religion Produces Life Change (James 1:26-27):
                • Controlling the tongue as a marker of true religion.
                • The destructive power of words.
                • Proverbs 18:21
                • True religion cares for the vulnerable (orphans and widows).
                • Living differently as Christ followers.
                • Application/Conclusion:
                  • James' invitation to live a radical life of listening and doing.
                  • Prayer for the congregation to be marked by deep engagement with God's word and care for others.
                  • Invitation to accept Christ.
                  • Prayer for those who need a re-ignition of their faith.
                  • Prayer for God to help everyone live out the message of the sermon.
                  • Closing Remarks:
                    • Thank you for tuning in.
                    • Encouragement to subscribe and support the ministry.
                    • Blessing and farewell.
                      • ...more
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                      Church on the Rock - NashvilleBy Pastor Nick Birmingham